Refrigerating apparatus.



H. D. POWNALL.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1913.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Sw-ueutoz H D, POWNALL.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. I913.

2 SHEETS SHEEI L.

HENRY JD. POWNALL, 0F CANTON, OHIO.

REFRIGERATING- ATPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 7, 1913. Serial No. 746,826.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY D. POWNALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus,of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producingartificial ice.

One of its objects is to provide in connection witha refrigerating tankand ice molds improved means to release the ice from the bottoms of theice molds without removing'the molds from the refrigerating tank.

Another object is to provide for the application of a dry heat evenlyapplied to the bottoms of the ice molds toavoid fracturing the icetherein, and to increase the life unit at one time.

My invention also comprises certain details of form, combination andarrangement, all of which will be fully set forth in the description ofthe accompanying drawings in which: V

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a plurality of refrigerating tank unitswith ice molds in place therein and lids removed, together with pipeconnections thereto, and means to heat the bottoms of the ice molds.Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the same on line r 'o ofFig. 1.

The accompanying drawings represent the preferred embodiment of myinvention in which A represent separate'brine or refrigcrating tankunits. of which several are em ployed to constitute the completerefrigerating apparatus. Each tank has a series of openings (1 in itsbottom over which openings the ice molds-B are seated and detachably.connected to the tank bottom by means of bolts 2 and nuts 3., The ottoms4 of the ice molds are some distance above the tank bottom'formingchambers 5 beneath the respective ice molds, and the spaces between theice molds, and between the ice molds and tank walls are filled toapproximately the level of the bottoms 4 of the'ice molds with pitch orsimilar material 6, which ispreferably introduced in a heated orsemi-fluid condition, and when cool becomes practically solid and servesto seal all the joints at the bottom of the tank and to prevent leakagein any direction, and also toforI-n a heat insulating material at theside walls of the chambers 5 to prevent freezing in the pipe connectionsleading to the bottoms of the ice molds.

Connecting members 7 are attached to the bottoms of the respective icemolds to which inlet and exit branch pipes 8 and 9 are con nected. Saidbranch pipes 8 lead from a main pipe 10 which supplies raw water to therespective ice molds, and branch pipes 9 are connected to a main pipe 11which leads raw water from the ice molds to a settling reservoir 12,with overflow 12 to secure a uniform water level where impurities areremoved and the raw water returned through the main 10 and branches 8 tothe ice molds. A series of branch pipes 14 are supplied from a main notshown with air under pressure in limited quantity which serves to createa circulation of raw water to and from the ice molds through the branchpipes 8 and 9. The air bubbles up through the water in the ice molds andescapes at the top, and in so doing serves to agitate the water in theice molds and to detach air bubbles, impurities and foreign matter fromthe face of the forming ice, thereby en abling pure and clear ice to beformed. A liquid refrigerant, as for instance brine occupies the spaceIf within the tanks A above the substance 6 and surrounding the icemolds. The brine may be refrigerated in the tanks, but is preferablycirculated from the tanks by means of pipes 15 and 16 to and from aseparate brine cooler not shown. When the valves 17 and 18 are closedand valves 19 and 20 opened the brine entrapped in the tank can becirculated by means of a pump 21 through a coil 22 where it is warmedand returned to the tank A to thaw the ice loose from the side walls ofthe ice molds. This however does not loosen the ice from the bottom ofthe ice molds.

Inorder to loosen the ice from the bottoms of the ice molds I provideheaders 2% at one end of each of the tanks A which may be supplied withlive steam through the branch supply pi es 25 by opening the valves 26therein. eading from the respectiveheaders 24 are a series of pipes 27located below the tanks and beneath the respective rows of ice moldsand. connected at their opposite ends to headers 28, said pipes andheaders being so arranged as to drain Patented Apr. 25, 1916..

any water of condensation to the headers 28. From the respective headers28 any moisture is drained to a steam trap 29. capable of discharging ordraining of the water of condensation without permitting the escape ofsteam.

In order to loosen the ice from-the bottoms of all the ice molds in oneof the tanks A the valve 26 opposite said tank is opened admitting steamto the headers 24 and 28 and pipes 27. which causes currents of warm dryair to rise into contact with the bottoms of the ice molds to releasethe ice therefrom, and said application of heat being gradual andgeneral instead of local and sudden as would be liable to result fromspraying Warm Water against the bottoms of the ice molds, preventsfracture of the ice and does not attack. wash away. or loosen theprotecting coating or film of oxid formed on the under face of thebottoms of the ice molds. or other coating thereon. As soon as the iceis loosened the valve 26 is closed. and all moisture is drained to andescapes by the steam trap 29. leaving the steam pipes empty thus avoiding liability of freezing taking place in said steam pipes 24. 27 and28. during the next freezing operation. Hot brine. water. or otherheating medium may be substituted for steam \vhere desirable.

The mechanism herein illustrated and described is capable ofconsiderable modification Without departing from the principle of myinvention.

Having described my invention. What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for making artificial ice comprising a refrigeratingtank having one or more openings in the bottom thereof, one or more icemolds in said tank having their bottoms fitted over the openings in saidtank bottom, means to apply a refrigerant to the side Walls of said icemolds and means to apply a dry heated medium to the bottoms of said icemolds to release the ice therefrom.

2. An apparatus for making artificial ice comprising a refrigeratingtank having one or more openings in the bottom thereof, one or more icemolds in said tank having their bottoms fitted over the openings in saidtank bottom, means to apply a refrigerant to the side walls of said icemolds, and valve controlled mechanism to temporarily heat the airbeneath the bottoms of said ice molds to release the ice therefrom.

3. An apparatus for making artificial ice comprising a refrigeratingtank having one or more openings in its bottom. one or more ice molds insaid tank having their bottoms seated over the openin in'said tank.means to apply a refrigerant to the side walls of said ice molds. pipesbeneath said tank to temporarily heat the air beneath the bottoms ofsaid ice molds to release the ice therefrom. a valve controlled steamsupply pipe leading to said heating pipes beneath the tank. and means toautomatically drain the water of condensation from said heater pipes.

4. An apparatus for making artificial icc comprising a refrigeratingtank having a plurality of openings in its bottom. a plurality of icemolds in said tank having their bottoms seated over the openings in saidtank. means to apply a non-congealing rcfrigerating medium to the sidewalls of said ice molds. pipes beneath said tank and the bottoms of saidice molds to intermittently heat the air beneath the bottoms of said icemolds to release the ice therefrom. valve controlled means to supplysteam to said heating pipes. and means to drain the water ofcondensation therefrom \vithout permitting the escape of steam from saidheating pipes.

An apparatus for making artificial ice comprising a refrigerating tank.having a plurality of openings in its l'ottom. a plurality of ice moldsin said tan having their bottoms seated over the openings in said tank.means to apply a non-congealing refrigerating medium to the side Wallsof said ice molds. valve controlled pipes beneath -said tank and thebottoms of said ice molds to receive a fluid heating medium tointermittently heat the air beneath the bottoms of said ice molds torelease the ice therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY D. IOlVNALL.

Witnesses:

DAVID B. DAY,

ERNEST J. Donna.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0.

